Feliz Navidad!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

I just wanted to send a quick letter and say MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas yesterday! And Christmas eve the night before...we had a party with just the sisters on shift that night and the VC director read us "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and "Luke 2" - and we have treats and they gave us "forget me not" necklaces because all the Senior couples leave within the next few months! crazy! I will miss them dearly! as for Christmas -  We got to have a big Christmas photo...then we got presents from our mission president and wife - they gave us the book of pictures that the church uses to teach! SO AMAZING!! we each got one! then, they gave us each a cool small journal! love journals!! and then we watched Elf :P haha, yep we did. and then had a wonderful Christmas lunch/dinner! LINNER!!! haha, it was turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, rolls! the whole shi-bang! and it was amazing because families took there Christmas to come and cook for like 200 missionaries!

on the random notes of love this week - I just LOVE YOU ALL! Thank you for the Christmas wishes, the fun stories, the presents! I love you all!! and my Christmas was wonderful!

As for mission life - WE ARE HAVING A WEDDING!!! this saturday morning and right after a baptism! We are so excited and can't wait! They are excited too! I love it! everything is a little crazy but that's how baptisms usally go for me :D

well..I'm limited more on my time today but i Know that my Savior lives! He is so wonderful and is really helping me have the strength to make it through and help these people. I hope you know he is blessing all of you too! That's what he does because he loves us!

Con todo mi Amor,

-Hermana Word (2)

5685 - Sunset on Saturday

5786 - Christmas!!!

5712 - 4 year olds on the Violin - almost as cool as my bro!

5758 - Presents and Christmas jammies :D

5778 - my mission mom! she goes home in a week :/

seis dias mas!!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST!!! But we've been celebrating all month at the VC and I love it! My favorite position at the VC is holding the door open when people leave and telling them Merry Christmas!! It truly gives them a smile and helps them keep that Spirit with them as they leave the VC :D My favorite thing to ask little kids their favorite part of Christmas, and you would expect all the answers to be presents (which some are) but the majority of the kids have been giving presents, not receiving them. I even had this really cool kid, Hunter, come up to me the other night and started to tell me what he was giving his family but then he stopped cause his parents where there so then he told me it as a secret...He is blowing up balloons and asking his family members their favorite scriptures and then printing those out "on Word 2007" and putting a picture of the person on the other side of the balloon! THE SWEETEST KID! Made me think of my little b-man and all the sweet creative gifts he always gives! I also invited Hunter to take a referral card home and as a family, in Family Home Evening, think of someone who doesn't have the Gospel yet and bring it back so that we can share the Gospel with them..Well he asked how to do it and if he gives it to me and....etc. He's Awesome! PLUS - his older brother just got back from a mission to Armenia! I know of one person that served in Armenia and He knows him - that Kyle Frye! I feel a tad dumb cause I forgot to ask this kid his name cause I was so excited to talk to his brother but it was really cool! Heavenly Father always let me meet the weird connections.

SPEAKING OF ---KAITY WORD! I met your daughter on Saturday! Hermana SOTO!! haha, she was so cute! She came in with a big Spanish group (it was their branch down for the day from New York) and I was the only Spanish speaking sister on the floor so I went to talk to them and they told me where they were from and I said "oh, my sister served her mission in Jersey" and this girl goes, "i did too, what's your name?" I showed her my tag/said my name and she started freaking out a bit and then told me that you were her trainer on the mission! SO COOL!! Then she showed me pictures of you together and I remembered you telling me stories about her and everything :D way SMALL WORLD! That is the 2nd person I have met that served with chu!

This week we had a specialized training for all of our new exhibits in the VC that have been open for a few weeks. It was really fun - Elder Steven Allen, Director of the Missionary Department and Bro. Lsuvardi (he's in charge of all the exhibits of the church) came and taught us how to most effectively use the new exhibits and how to help people feel the spirit through our teachings! IT WAS AWESOME! I'm really trying to use the exhibits more effectively now and invite the Spirit more :D

OH - OUR INVESTIGATOR RECEIVED HIS ANSWER AND KNOWS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TEACHING HIM IS TRUE AND KNOWS THAT HE NEEDS TO BE BAPTIZED!!!! We talked with him yesterday about it and he was just so excited and told us that he knows that this is what Heavenly Father wants from him and knows it will bless him! This is Jose by the way. So we will be having that this next week! AHH!! True miracles are happening here :D and then his family will be sealed in the temple in a year!

Well, I love you all! I know this work is true. I challenge you all to study the Doctrine of Christ - 2 Nephi 31 and ponder how you can more fully apply it in your lives and the lives of others!

Stay Safe! FELIZ NAVIDAD!!
Con TODO mi AMOR!!
-Hermana Word (2)

Feliz cumplianos a ti!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SUPER AWESOME SIBLINGS ASHLEIGH AND DAVID!!! smASH! sorry I can't be there for that cruz you wanted to go on, but if you want to go next year - i'll do my best to be your interpreter ;D ...B-man! You're a teacher now! and you are all in 8th grade and stuff and you get to play more football and wow - you've got an awesome life! I LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH! and ps - a present (very small present) is on the way for both of you...I'm a poor missionary but I love you both!

before i forget - Kaity, i met a guy from you mission the other day in the VC. I cannot remember his name...or where i put i wrote it down, but he was from Guatemala or Peru (i think) and he just got back in like July! Super cool guy - we talked in Spanish..haha, i speak Spanish, pretty sweet! anywho that is all :D

Well back to missionary life. The Festival of Lights has begun! and it has been so awesome! The lighting ceremony was on Wednesday and Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles came to the VC with his wife and some family who live in the area. I was at the VC that night and it was our embassador night - so all the people that decide if we can go to their countries and share the Gospel there. HOW COOL?? Well i loved it! We had a good time - and the featured embassador was from the Ukraine - did you know we have  a temple there in Kiev?? HOW COOL!!? He was super sweet and just shared how he can't wait to continue to work with the church and have a country of continual peace. I would say the best part was Elder Nelson - side note, i got to shake his hand and i froze like a popsicle. He was super nice and just reached out to shake my hand...then Sister Lin (one of our missionaries from Taiwan was there) and he told her "nice to meet you" IN CHINESE!!! WHAT? He is amazing! truly blessed of the Lord to know various languages....back to His talk/speech. He talked about how we all need to let the light of Christ into our lives and the true meaning of Christmas. Well - the view i had was a side view, where two spotlights were on him and the two in the other direction were on the Christus in the Main Lobby of the VC.It was so amazing to feel the Spirit in that room and that moment in time. He truly is a living apostle of the Lord.

Other cool things - festival is awesome! I got a new investigator (over the phone teaching at the VC) who I have trying to get sister missionaries to here for a while. She was referred by her fiance who is a member and she is of the Muslim faith but wants to learn because of his background...but she feels more secure with learning from a women...but there are no sisters in her area. Well, while i was talking to her, i understood that that is because I should be the one teaching her. So I offered that I could do that over the phone and teach her that way. she said YES! so awesome! so now i have a new investigator and she is awesome! and I'm super excited!

And our investigators in our area are doing SO WELL! the family that we are teaching came to church again this Sunday (and brought the son of the dad)...This kid is the best! He was talking to me in Sacrament meeting about Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and how sometimes he can't tell them apart because they look so much a like :) Well, I then proceeded to show him the picture of the First Vision and he told me who the people in the air were, but then i asked which was which and he pointed straight to Jesus and then to Heavenly Father! How amazing is that! He truly knows his Savior and his Father in Heaven and he's only 7 years old! We're friends. then their whole family porceeded to come to the VC that night for the Festival of lights and had one amazing experience with the Spirit. They have a daughter who is disabled and we love her to pieces! Well, one of the Senior sisters started talking to her (because she used to do speech therapy a long time ago). It was super special, this sister told me that it was like she was talking to a pure spirit child of our Father in Heaven. It's true, I know she was.

Well, that's what i have for this week. I know that this is true. I know we have a living prophet on the earth today and twelve apostles. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and does not take anything away from the Gospel. It only helps us know more of what Heavenly Father expects us to do so that we can return to him. I bare witness of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

this week, i challenge you all to share your testimony! It is such a wonderful experience on both ends. You are giving God's children the chance to be his children once again :) Share it. Share the love he has for all his children!

Con todo mi amor!
-Hermana Word (2)

5607- KAITY - here's my blowup for your wedding :D you thought i was joking...
5611 - Hna.Tuft, Hna. Finlay, and Me! before the embassador's arrived
5613 - Sister Bullock and I! She's awesome!

estamos en el medio!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Well can you believe that it is the middle of December already?! How was the big birthday bash SmASH and B-man? I love you both and hope you enjoyed your birthdays!

This week has been insaine! I have not seen my area in a week because we have had Church, VC shift, Exchanges, and Mission tour in the Mornings and every night we are in the VC. But no worries cause the Elders in our area are doing an awesome job at making sure our investigators are prepared and ready to be baptized! They are awesome! We have 26 yr old named Miguel who knows that everything we have taught is true and prayers all the time to understand what Heavenly Father has planned for him. And then we have Jose. He is amazing! He is just learning right now of the different commandments that the Lord has given us and will need to be married before he can be baptized. But he loves church! he even talks to his friends about the things he is learning and is really being converted to the Gospel! Truly amazing!

As for the VC. There are so many different things that happen there that I loose track of what sometimes. I will tell you that we had a "birthday" celebration for one of our "regulars". His name is Dan and he first got to know the church through the Visitor's Center...and he got baptized a year ago. He is awesome! and we all signed a card for him and someone brought cake! It was the best! 

Miracles! Well this week I was sitting at the Door, clicking how many people walked in and a man came up and he was looking at a case that we have with pictures and tickets from when the temple had it's open house and two recordings from the dedication. Well I started talking to him while i was sitting there and he said he'd come with his cousins who are members and that he had investigated the church when he was in his country 14 YEARS AGO! And i asked him if he knew why the temple was so important and he said no. So I explained about forever families and who we can literally be sealed with our families for more that just this life, not just til death do you part and then testified of it's truthfulness. Then I invited  him to learn more and he filled out the cards that we have to receive missionaries! AHH!! SO GREAT!! Miracles happen!

Last night, I was talking with two older ladies at the VC on a bus tour and we have some computers in the back where you can do family history research and so they were searching their ancestors and then we started talking about the temple and how it is so important because of baptisms for the dead and the things that we can do with the proper Priesthood Authority that the family can be together forever. And one sister started talking about her mom and how her mom was always afraid to die and then I read to her a scripture in Alma 40: 12 about the soul entering a state of rest. and then 40: 23 about the restoration of every hair on our heads after we are resurrected! It was SO powerful even for me to feel of the Spirit and feel it testify of truth to these women. and then also, she asked about infant baptisms and I read a verse in Moroni 8:22 (which i haven't read in a long time) because of the Spirit guiding me and telling me what to say! Truly amazing...they didn't except missionaries but they did have a good touch and could see the Book of Mormon has  the answers!

OH - and we had a mission tour where Elder Packer of the 70 came and talked to us and viewed how the mission was going. He was awesome and we learned that we definitely need to start working with the members more. Oh and I need more exercise :P

I LOVE YOU ALL!! No time left but just know that I know this church is true and that families can be forever. They are meant to be! If you want to know what missionaries teach, ask them. They would love to share it with you. It brings true, lasting happiness!

Con todo mi amor!
-Hermana Word (2)

que pasa calabasa!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012


Well...this is hard stuff. haha, it's true but it's awesome!

Basically, I'm training but not and it's weird cause I'm trying to figure out what I can teach her. But that's really where I let Heavenly Father lead cause I have no idea what I'm doing :P 

Our first day in our area - we had a member dinner with a less active sister. She is really sweet but has a hard time because her kids don't want to listen to the Gospel. But her 14 yr old son went with some of the ward leaders and other youth this weekend to help the people out in New York and New Jersey! Which is so good - I know it will be a blessing and find a greater love for the Savior as he serves others. 

On Thursday we taught this super awesome family - Jose, Sonia, and Roberto. Sonia was looking into the church years ago and LOVES IT! Jose says " paso a paso" step by step...but they both accepted a baptismal date! which is awesome! Roberto is the uncle of Sonia and he won't except a date but he is reading the Book of Mormon and likes it a lot. AND THEY CAME TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY!!! WOO HOO!!! Jose and Sonia have a handicapped daughter Emily - she is the cutest. But the sisters in Nursery were super wonderful and Sonia only had to leave class once to help them! What a blessing - Heavenly Father helped them all the be there and to feel the Spirit while they were at church. I got to go to Young Womens and help out one of the Elders investigators for a bit..:D I love YWs!!

OH _ and we had a lesson with Miguel! The first lesson he ever had was about 2 weeks ago in the VC and I gave him the Lesson, oh and in it he accepted a bdate- so cool! Well now he is my investigator and we had a super good lesson with him, where he had some questions about the Book of Mormon...then that night he read the 1st 2 chapters of 1 Nephi! He's so good!

and the VC is OPEN! Well most of our remodeling is done...and will finish today - we just got to see the new exhibits! I can't wait for all of you to see them one day (when I'm not on my mission)

Well...my time ran away from me cause I had to send out some other emails today but I want you to know that I love you all! Sorry, not much email, but I want you to know that this church is true. and more than that, Jesus Christ knows how we feel and is the only one that really does. It's been a hard week and prayer is the blessing that helps me to know it will all be okay :) So don't forget to pray!

Les AMO!

-Hermana Word

ps - ERIKA - can you ask Carree for her address for me...I can't send her letters :/

5484 - Bibiana :D she was baptized last week!

5404 - capital sunrise !

5495- hermana bleazard/ day of service! we set up tables for the feed the homeless dinner on thanksgiving!

5555- my new companions (ltr - Hna Tuft, Hna Finlay, Yo!)

translados otra vez!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Well...We got a phone call from our Zone Leaders Monday night that said I was going to be leaving Glenmont right before Thanksgiving. I was bummed, I'm not going to lie, and not to amped to head to a new area. Today we found out where I was going. I'm headed to Gaithersburg! And I'm in a trio with a newbie, Hna Tuft, and one of our oldest sisters, Hna Finlay. I'm looking forward to meet the ward and the people here and I know this is where the Lord needs me so I'm headed forward with his help.

 

For the last week, I had this super nice cold and now it is a cough that I'm not too fond of but it is truly amazing how much the Lord blesses missionaries. I've had colds before where all I want to do is go home and sleep but I havn't felt that way! I've just wanted to push through and help the people that we needed to help! There were a couple nights where I was exhausted but other than that it was some strength I've never seen before. Truly a blessing!

 

And with that - the Lord is still blessing us! Well In Glenmont in the last two weeks we got 3 baptismal dates, and started teaching 2 families! It is amazing! I love that ward and I know the sisters who are there now will really keep it going! In DC 1st ward, there was a baptism this week for Bibiana - 14 yr old girl who her family was baptized about a year ago, but she lives with her mom who is not a member. Well she just got baptized and it was amazing! I taught her my last transfer so I was able to go and see it! I'm so excited for her - she has such a wonderful sweet spirit and will bring many people unto Christ just because of her example.

 

Random Messages of Love!

-Hailee - again - CONGRATULATIONS!!! You're going to see so many miracles out there in Brazil! I'm excited for you to learn a new language and meet a whole different culture of people. Truly a blessing!

-Sis. Marrott! Thank you again for your sweet card! I love hearing from you! and Bro. Marrott! I hope  you are doing well!

-Tim Hodges! What?! you wrote me a letter! I just got it today, so I'm reading it...but thank you! I'm excited to read it! You're awesome!

-Erika Dobler...so, im sorry I still havnt written  you back and probably wont have much time to do so this week either. I LOVE YOU! i will write you soon!

 

Well, everyone..once again - You're awesome! Something I've realized a lot this week is the Lord's timing. I think I said this last week too. Maybe I'm getting it but it's not fully going through. But I want you to all know he's got a plan for each and every one of us. We may be able to see where we are, but he is the only one that knows where we can go and who we can be, and we have to ask him to help us get there. I know i need more patience and to be more humble and I know i can't to either without his help. I hope you can all find that help that you need and remember to ask for help.

 

Con Amor,

-Hermana Word

 

el amenecer!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Woohoo! Yep, we went and took sunrise pictures this morning! it was awesome. But let me just tell you that you best not freak out when you get of on the wrong Metro stop because of the Lord's timing and your companion needed to talk to someone who had missionaries before and not now only because she MOVED states. I felt schmuky all day (if that's even a word). But its all good! It was a fun day and we did many things. Dad - you and mom need to come and pick me up and see all the sights :D it would be awesome! Just think on that a bit...next October :) 
We tried to see the National Archives but it was closed up top with these HUGE black doors so we just took some pictures and left it like that :) Another day.

Well - I met a man named Aloysius (al-O-wish-US) this week!!! HAHAHAH!! SOO COOL! he was really nice and said he'd like to meet with missionaries(super plus). We also got a ....B-DATE!!! YAY! Heavenly Father is so GOOD! We went to stop by a less active family who lives in the far reaches of our area and they were home. The mom and 17 yr old daughter are members but the 13 yr old son was never baptized. We talked about it and he was like "yeah. it feels like the right thing to do" and he recognizes that there is a different feeling at church/when the Spirit is there :D so cool! so yes, he'll be baptized December 1st!
And another less active couple we visited...who i havn't seen at church since ive been in the area...were at church on Sunday! HOW COOL IS THAT?! and our B-date (Ariel) was there too :D 

What else happened this week? Oh - CAR Fast! Okay, yes that sounds a little weird but it was awesome! We talked to so many people and got some referrals for the English sisters. Oh and the cool part is we did have some lessons and we walked to them (I was on exchange in my area with a sister from China -English Speaking missionary) the poor sister...but she did so awesome! She just chimed in not even knowing what was going on, but didn't miss a beat :D Super legit!

Well just a few Items of random notes of love:
-Kaity WORD- CONGRATULATIONS!!! Still can't believe it! Wish I could be there but it is all good - I trust this Andrew kid...my seester deserves the best!
-TRENT - Happy BIRTHDAY!!! How did you celebrate?! Something super awesome, I'm sure! but seriously - you're awesome and I hope you had a rad birthday!
-Random mission excitement for all to hear - soo...there is a Sister Fehlman in my mission who one of her good friends just got her mission call to Taiwan and in the call letter it says she will finish her mission in China when it opens!! WHAT?! How cool is that!? I'll tell you our Chinese sisters are a little giddy about it, that's for sure :D

well...that's about all I've got. I'll do my best to get letters out next week and email (but we might have P-day on Thanksgiving and the Libraries would be closed) I love you all! I want you to know that it is always going to be okay. Stop complaining. Start Praying. The Lord will help you even overcome yourself if you really want to change. Alma 7:11-12 :)

Con Amor!
-Hermana Word (2)

"The vail over the Earth is beginning to Burst"

October 24, 2012

:D yep, true statement. and we have a "vail" in the Vistor's Center that is obstructing our view of the Temple right now :/ The construction workers are chiseling away that the flow and cutting new holes for new electric wires and stuff that I really know nothing about but I'm greatful for it...just praying it's done before December or our festival will be even more chaotic than I've heard of.

 

This week i have yet again learned that the Lord has a plan for each and every one of us and even if all our appointments fall through, he will help us find what we really need if we just keep the faith in him. so we've had some full pros days this week...actually all this week and it has been great! On monday...appt after appt fell through but we kept treking alone. We even got to wear PANTS and do some service in a garden - another thing I know nothing about but should. But amidst all the failed appts we were able to meet some new people and set up appts to come back. We started singing a hymn to an elderly lady yesterday who was so touched she wanted literature to read...we didn't have any Book of Mormons in hand but we gave her a pamphlet and said we'd come back again :) So if you ever don't know what to do on a doorstep - SING! one of the Quickest ways to invite the Spirit and it helps others soften their hearts to what your saying.. And to everyone reading this who is not a missionary -Sing when you need the Spirit! I do that all the time in my head...outloud, whenever I'm needing and don't have it for some reason or another.

 

Oh and I was having a little bit of a rough time this week..just thinking too much and there was a Brother Barrera who came to the VC, I've met him once before and he loves missionaries (apprently he just gives referals of everyone he knows...he's  a member missionary). Well, I was talking to him and he just really helped me pass over what I was frustrating myself with and just let me know to keep going...Satan Gets to us! He tries so hard cause he knows how good it is and wants for no one to be happy because he can't be. Well. He chose to not be happy. And we can choose to be happy or not. Just don't let him get YOU down. YOU can do it. Read the scriptures, pray for help...one of Heavenly Father's angels will come and help you.. I promise you that!

 

As for our area - well it has been a little slow. We had to drop our investigator because she's not ready to forgive some people in her life :/ BUT we just got so many more miles so now we can go to an area that has so many hispanic people that we never see because of the limit of miles we have!! The Lord has a plan and we're finding it! Oh - and super cool experience we had with a member who is having a hard time right now...Basically we went to the VC and she told us all that has been going on and how her husband is growing stronger in his faith but how every hard thing keeps coming at her. The Spirit was so strong! I was so impressed to promise her that her and her husband would be together again one day and that they would both be prepared and enter the temple together. And in the mean time, they are going to be instruments in the Lord's hands to help build others up...! WOW! It was amazing. And I testify that that is true. I know it.

 

Quick notes of Random-ness -

Kaity - letter. Asap! :D

SMash -  you too!

Popsicle - I LOVE YOU!! How's life?

B-man - what's the happs? How's school?

Mom - I LOVE YOU!! How's life? Also...If you could send my perscription like tomorrow that would be great..sorry I forgot to tell you again :P Oh and thank you for my clothes!!

 

Basically I love you all! You are so wonderful! This work is hard but it is SO WORTH I.T.!!! ETTE :)

-Hermana Word (2)